Latest medicines optimisation data now available

12 January 2018

CCG medicine optimisation leads are encouraged to visit the MO Dashboard following the latest refresh of the data. Several comparators which are updated annually now show data up to September 2017 and quarterly figures until the end of September 2017 are available. The MO dashboard should be used to ensure that CCGs are getting the best patient outcomes and value from their medicine spend.

Latest News

Public Health England has published new data detailing the state of the nation’s diet.

The figures from the latest national diet and nutrition survey collected from 2014 to 2016 show that children and young people are consuming nearly three times the recommended intake of sugar in their diets.

NHS England has confirmed the conditions have now been met to enable 18 existing CCGs to merge from 1 April 2018. The existing CCGs will be dissolved and six new CCGs will be formed: Birmingham and Solihull, Leeds, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, Buckinghamshire, East Berkshire and Berkshire West. Each of the mergers builds on a history of joint working between the existing CCGs. Following the mergers, there will be a total of 195 CCGs in England. For further information please contact: england.ccgiaf@nhs.net

The NHS’s 70th birthday on 5 July is an ideal opportunity to thank NHS staff and volunteers, to look back over the past 70 years and to build confidence for the future. Resources are available to support clinical commissioning groups to get involved, for instance by hosting events such as exhibitions and open days. The materials, which include NHS70 branding, can be also used by GP practices, pharmacists, dentists and opticians. To keep the public informed, we have launched a website with all the latest news, including the new NHS 10p coin which was launched this month.

The minister for safeguarding and vulnerability has launched a trusted relationships fund for vulnerable young people between the ages of 10 and 17 at risk of exploitation and abuse. Local authorities and other public sector organisations with expertise in protecting young people from abuse and exploitation are invited to submit expressions of interest by 13 April 2018.

A report from the British Specialist Nutrition Association reflects on the increasing number of cases of malnutrition in hospital and associated deaths. It draws on malnutrition data for 2015/16 broken down by NHS trust and finds that more than half the hospital trusts in England are under-reporting malnutrition rates compared to accepted national estimates.